Port Arthur mayor: Motiva to purchase third historic downtown building

Click through to see photographs from inside the Hotel Sabine. In 2015 the city offered it up as part of a film-friendly incentive proposal to potential film-makers in the hopes it would be demolished. Today, Motiva has plans to buy it as part of the renovations of three downtown buildings. Enterprise file photo

Click through to see photographs from inside the Hotel Sabine. In 2015 the city offered it up as part of a film-friendly incentive proposal to potential film-makers in the hopes it would be demolished. Today, ... more

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Click through to see photographs from inside the Hotel Sabine. In 2015 the city offered it up as part of a film-friendly incentive proposal to potential film-makers in the hopes it would be demolished. Today, Motiva has plans to buy it as part of the renovations of three downtown buildings. Enterprise file photo

Click through to see photographs from inside the Hotel Sabine. In 2015 the city offered it up as part of a film-friendly incentive proposal to potential film-makers in the hopes it would be demolished. Today, ... more

Photo: File / File / File

Port Arthur mayor: Motiva to purchase third historic downtown building

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The city of Port Arthur has announced Motiva Enterprises’ intention to purchase a third building in downtown Port Arthur.

Mayor Derrick Freeman said the purchase of the Hotel Sabine building is one of the provisions on the table for the city’s in lieu of taxes agreement with the company.

“We’ve been asking for different things in contract organizations,” he said, later hinting there’s more to be announced later. “It looks like the stars are aligning for Port Arthur.”

He expects the contracts to be finalized within the next 60 days.

But tentative plans from the company include using the top section of the building as short-term corporate lodging, Freeman said. The bottom floor would have retail available to Port Arthur residents, such as a deli, coffee shop or a restaurant, he said.

“We’re just trying to get out of the way,” he said. “We don’t want to slow anything down. We’re excited.”

He said the city hasn’t identified the funding model to be used for $10 million in planned for infrastructure improvements to the area before specific tax dollars become available.

Freeman said that will be a conversation to have with the City Council at a later date.

Freeman said Motiva plans to be moved into the building by the third quarter of 2021.

Motiva announced plans to purchase two other historic building in downtown Port Arthur earlier this month. The company said it plans to use the Adams Building, 440 Austin Ave., and the Federal Building, 500 Austin Ave., as office space for an eventual 500 workers.